Samuel c



(No Model.) Y

. S. CMHILL 8v S.D. WEBB.

MAIL yBAG PASTENER. No. 296.169.' Patented Apr. l, 1884.

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lili@ UiviTiznA STATES ATENT @herein SAMUEL C. HILL AND SAMUEL D. VBB, OF TASHINGTCR D. C.

MA: L- BAG FASTEN En:

SPECIFICATION forming pari: of Letters Patent No.'296,169, dated April l, 1884.

Application filed February 6, 1884. (No model.)

Tu a/Zf, 'whom it may concern:

SAMUEL D. YVEBB, citizens of the United i States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented new and useful lmproveinents in Mail-Bag Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to certain improvements in what are known as mail-bag fast enings.

Heretoiore it has been usual in devices of this character to confine the rope between a spring or gravity-wedge and the sides of the case containing such wedge, or to clamp the .rope between two plates or castings drawn together by means oi' a thumb-screw, or to confine the ropes between the sides of the case and eccentric spring-pawls provided with projecting thumb-pieces, by means of which the pawls are operated to release the rope. There are of course many other devices which have been suggested; but we refer to the ones named as most generally used.

Our invention relates to certain improvements in the class first named; and it has for its obj ect to provide a bag-fastener which shall be economic in construction, strong, durable,

' and eii'ective in operation, and capable of ce lerity of action.

W'th these ends in view our invention consists of a case madein two parts, of malleable cast-iron, secured together by suitable rivets, the sides or edges of the case tapering gradually from one end toward the other, and provided interiorly with a reciprocating springwedge adapted to confine the ropes independ ently of each other between the respective sides of the wedge and the sides of the casein such manner that any inequalities which may exist in the diameter oi' the rope at different points will not affect the holding or clamping power `of the wedge, and in providing said wedge with an operatingrod and rectangular swivel in such manner that the wedge may be drawn out of operative relation to the sliding rope, and held in such position by simply changing the position of said swivel upon its axis.

vOur invention also consists in the details of construction, hereinafter more fully described and specifically claimed.

In order that others nia-y fully understand our invention, we will now proceed to niinutely describe the sanne in connection with the draw- 4 ings, in which-d Figure l is a side view of the device, with one side of the shell removed, to more fully disclose the interior disposition of parts, and with the confining-block secured in a position to allow the string to be drawn through in either direction. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the block in position to bind the string.` Fig. 3 is a central longitudinaln section. Fig. et is a sectional end view. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modied form ot casing; and Fig. 6 is an end View, showing the clip by which the tie is secured to the bag.

In the drawings, the Vtwo sections forming the shell are represented, respectively, by the letters A and B. Ol these parts, A is the base section, and has its edges upturned to form the sides and ends of the shell. This part A has formed integral therewith, or seated in its inner face, the pins b-two at the broader end and one at the narrow one-which pins are of a length to pass through previously-prepared holes in the plate B, and secure thesame in position by having their ends riveted.

C represents the block, which is adapted to slide back and forth in the shell to bind or release the cord. It is, as shown, tapering in form, and its edges are preferably serrated, to forni a better edge for holding the cord. As a convenient means for operating the blocl,we, have providedit with a pin, e, which maybe cast in` one piece with it or secured in any wellkn0wn way. This pin passes through an opening'in the upturned portion d of the plate A, by which means it is guided, and it is surrounded by a coil-spring, f, one end of which bears against the block, and the other against the inner `face of the portion d, and thus its constant tendency is to force the block toward the smaller end of the shell and contine the strin g.

As a means of releasing the stringl from the block and locking the block in a position to allow the string to be drawn through the tie at will, we have provided the swivel D, which is perforated centrally for the reception of the reduced end of the pin, and is fastened on the said end by riveting. The swivel D is pro- IOO vided with two arms, e, and is free to revolve on the neck of the pin, so that when it is desired to release the cord and leave the tie in a position so that the cord may be drawn through in either direction, the swivel may be given a quarter-turn, to bring the arms to bear on the outer face of the shell, after the pin has been pulled out to the full extent allowed by the spring. The arms are preferably milled on their faces, to form a convenient surface for grasping in pulling out the pin. When the block is in a position to secure the cord from slipping, the arms of the swivel lie close to the sides of the shell, and so the tie is not liable to be loosened by contact with other surfaces.

It will be observed that the corners of the shell are rounded, for the purpose of giving additional strength to the same.

Ve fasten the tie to the bag by means of the end g of the plate, which is turned up at right angles to the plate, as shown, and is perforated for the passage of rivets or the like.

In Fig. 5 we have illustrated a modified form of shell. 'In this form we dispense with the pins for securing the plates together by forming their contiguous ends with corresponding indentations,which makeshoulders each for the other to bear against. Much greater strength is secured by this mode of fastening, as the Ve are aware that it is not new, broadly, to

form a shell with tapered interior surfaces adapted to co-operate with a longitudinal reciprocating tapered wedge, and do not therefore wish to be understoodas laying claim thereto; but

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is#- l. The shell A, having the interior of its sides tapered in one direction from end to end, with a correspondingly-tapered wedge, C, arranged therein, and provided with a rod or pin, c, extending from the large end of said wedge through the shell, in combination with 4a spring, f, arranged around the rod or pin,

the whole adapted to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, in a bag-tie, ofthe shell formed of the two parts A and B, the former having formed therewith the pins b and the perforated portion d, and the latter provided with the right-angular portion g, the springblock, and the pin, substantially as described.

8. The combination, in a bag-tie, of the shell made in two parts, as described, the springblock, and the pin secured to said block, and provided with the swivel D, having the arms e, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL C. HILL. SAMUEL D. WEBB.

Witnesses:

DAVID H. MEAD, E, L. WHITE. 

